Wiki Blackout

[Verdad]

English language Wikipedia is down for 24 hours in protest against SOPA and PIPA. (More about it on wiki’s own site.)

Apart from it being a bad day for internet know-it-alls what are your opinions about the initiative?

 

[TxRad]

English language Wikipedia is down for 24 hours in protest against SOPA and PIPA. (More about it on wiki’s own site.)

Apart from it being a bad day for internet know-it-alls what are your opinions about the initiative?

Both are not enforceable against what they are supposed to stop but they can and will be a pain in the ass for almost every website on the net. Especially the major ones who have nothing to do with piracy.

Congress keeps trying to get a foot in the door of the internet and they will keep trying. They can't stand the idea of something they can't control completely.

 

[PennLady]

I think the problem is that most people in Congress don't really understand the Internet and how it works. They're trying to make it fit into existing frameworks and that's not going to happen. I think it's an interesting protest that many sites are undertaking, although it won't affect me too much. I like Wikipedia but don't use it on a daily basis, and I don't use other services like Reddit, Twitter, etc. But then I'm older too. But not as old as Congress.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Congress, indeed, gets how the internet works. The outcome they want is to control the content.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Control will eventually lead to finding ways to make a buck on it and we'll be paying the government for access to what they control - they'll get what they want - eventually. It's just a matter of time.

The internet is so large, that they will find a way to earn some cash. It's a cash cow for many, and they want their hand in the cookie jar - more like they want to hold the cookie jar and let us stick our hand in it for a fee.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Control will eventually lead to finding ways to make a buck on it and we'll be paying the government for access to what they control - they'll get what they want - eventually. It's just a matter of time.

The internet is so large, that they will find a way to earn some cash. It's a cash cow for many, and they want their hand in the cookie jar - more like they want to hold the cookie jar and let us stick our hand in it for a fee.

You got it, Toyota.

 

[Verdad]

I like Wikipedia but don't use it on a daily basis, and I don't use other services like Reddit, Twitter, etc. But then I'm older too. But not as old as Congress.

Ha! I use it for quick, memory refreshing sort of checks. The social networking part of the net, though, could go down in flames and I’d be none the wiser.

But I’m quite pleased they’ve done this. On a quick read around, I’ve found some surprisingly negative reactions. Some have called it a cheap gimmick and waxed fairy tales about the job saving potential of those acts. Some have expressed concern that taking a stance on this issue jeopardizes impartiality as wiki’s proposed core value—kind of like, “what’s next, wiki’s down ‘cause we’re saving the whales?”

The latter objection has some merit, perhaps, but surely free exchange of information is the fundamental value in question. I’m happy to see actions, gimmicky or otherwise, that speak in its favor. Pleasantly surprised, too, that so far the folks here seem to think along the same lines.

 

[TE999]

Three cheers for Wiki! If no one stands up to those meddling bastards in Congress, free speech, in every sense of the word, will be a forlorn memory. Freedom of Speech is one of the founding principles of our government here in the US and someone needs to remind them of it at every opportunity.

As others have said here though, Congress' quest for more revenue and control of our daily lives knows no bounds and rest assured they'll keep pressing the issue.

I refer to Wiki all the time for story research and consider it an invaluable tool as such. Yes, I can Google a subject, but Wiki has everything in one place.

You go, Wiki!

 

[sr71plt]

What it means that if Literotica is shut down for posting copyrighted material if this law is enacted, it will be because of such posters as Trysail who continually steal copyrighted material and repost it here. It will be the fault of those "because I can" posters.

As authors, we should be giving some serious consideration to protecting the copyrighted material of other authors, shouldn't we? Probably not the right law, but there's reasoning behind it that should get some sympathy on a forum called "Author's Hangout." That is if we are really thinking about our own interests.

 

[PennLady]

There definitely needs to be thought put into this issue. I worked for a newsletter publisher, and our owner put a ton of thought into whether to go to the web or not, in the early days. We did, but everything was password protected, and we charged from the outset. We have also gone after a few companies that have taken our stuff without giving credit, and things like that.

From what I've read about these laws, I don't think they're going about it in the right way, but I'm not sure anyone knows what the right way is or should be, because everything is so new and changing so rapidly.

I've long thought that newspapers should have been charging from the outset of going online. Instead they find themselves in a huge quagmire, attempting to charge for some things but not others, and eventually just going back to not charging. You paid for your print newspaper when you subscribed to that, and just because an e-version does not use paper, doesn't mean it doesn't cost to put the information together, and doesn't mean it doesn't hurt someone (in whatever sense) when the material is plagiarized.

Same goes for authors, whether you're talking royalties or ethics. You put the time into creating your story, and you may choose to post for free and take your chances (as we do here). You may choose to copyright and publish, and then you'd be pretty ticked if someone plagiarized your work and profited from it, so there should be protections. Again, though, I think there is a knowledge gap between those who are trying to write the laws and protect intellectual property, and those who know about the internet.

 

[PennLady]

I hope these are useful links:

Text of SOPA

Text of PIPA

From the Washington Post

Five reasons the Internet’s still protesting SOPA and PIPA

Everything you need to know about Congress’s online piracy bills, in one post

P.S. I'm not endorsing the Post articles. The Post is usually my go-to news source and I saw these on there and thought they might be informative.

 

[CharleyH]

That this sort of bill could be potentially passed in one single country that affects the whole world. That is scary to me.

 

[sr71plt]

I agree this legislation is flawed--because it's simplistic and can only add to the existing convoluted confusion.

If we strip this issue down to the base problem, though, it's that people are stealing material and reposting it to the Internet. Folks are doing that right here on Literotica--right here on the Authors Hangout. Perhaps the basic, more effective way to approach the problem is to start cleaning it up right here, where we are.

If we don't want clumsy legislation to cover it, perhaps we should start erasing the base problem. Literotica could start enforcing its own forum rule (no reposting of copyrighted material without permission) by more vigilantly deleting stolen work from forum posts--and the rest of us could show those posting it habitually that it's not acceptable behavior here.

Or we could just bitch about what the legislation proposals do or don't do.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I personally applaud Wiki, because both SOPA & PIPA are nuclear weapons, put in the hands of spoiled children, to swat flies.

There already are laws on the books that offer CIVIL relief for copy right holders. All these laws do, and the thinking of the asshats behind them and support them do, is to criminalize everything.

That results in rediculous censorship and the equivalent of another Prohibition (and we know how freakin well THAT worked).

So IMO, if you copyright your stuff and want civil relief for its unauthorized use, go for it. You kiddies just don't get to declare thermonuclear censorship on people who may or may not have stolen your favorite pencil.

 

[3113]

Control will eventually lead to finding ways to make a buck on it and we'll be paying the government for access to what they control

As others have said here though, Congress' quest for more revenue and control of our daily lives knows no bounds and rest assured they'll keep pressing the issue.

LOL! Right. So, you're not paying anything to get on the internet. Do I have that right? Not paying any company for wi-fi in your home, not buying a latte at Starbucks to use their wi-fi, not paying taxes so the library can have wi-fi...nada. Is that right? I have to laugh at you both because you pretend this is all free and that greedy congress wants you to pay for it...but it's not. You ARE paying for it. To greedy corporations. Who, unlike congress and the taxes you give them, don't give you anything BUT the internet back. Don't give you roads, or schools, or an army or disaster relief.

You're idiots if you think congress wants this law in place so it can make money off the internet. Congress wants this in place so that private corporations can keep the money they're getting from their stuff instead of having that stuff stolen. These people have paid congress to make this law for them...not for Congress, and certainly not for you. I know this because the laws as written give corporations the power to censor foreign websites. If congress is doing this to get control and money from the internet, why give corporations or any other private parties such power? In this case, the power for the corporation to make more money by keeping you from sites which might have the same content for free? Why not put it all into the hands of some government agency...if congress wants money as well as control?

Which is why I say "hurrah for Wiki" and all other sites blacking out in protest right now. Because I not only do not want congress censoring my access to the internet, but I don't want corporations or anyone else doing it either. I agree with sr7 that something does need to be done about piracy--I certainly don't' like it when my stories are pirated, but these laws are badly written and could easily be abused to censor, blacklist, and otherwise try to control information, not just keep copyrighted material copyrighted.

I hope Wiki and the rest annoy enough users that they scream at their congressmen to vote no and these bills go down in flames.

 

[Safe_Bet]

As authors, we should be giving some serious consideration to protecting the copyrighted material of other authors, shouldn't we? Probably not the right law, but there's reasoning behind it that should get some sympathy on a forum called "Author's Hangout." That is if we are really thinking about our own interests.

If we strip this issue down to the base problem, though, it's that people are stealing material and reposting it to the Internet. Folks are doing that right here on Literotica--right here on the Authors Hangout. Perhaps the basic, more effective way to approach the problem is to start cleaning it up right here, where we are.

If we don't want clumsy legislation to cover it, perhaps we should start erasing the base problem. Literotica could start enforcing its own forum rule (no reposting of copyrighted material without permission) by more vigilantly deleting stolen work from forum posts--and the rest of us could show those posting it habitually that it's not acceptable behavior here.

Or we could just bitch about what the legislation proposals do or don't do.

Today, 10:29 AM * #4
sr71plt
Literotica Guru
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sr71plt is online now
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Ah, so. Cured of reading Incest here because that story hit home?

Still, it's obvious underage. Probably should be deleted from the file. But I'm not going to report it.

Gee... Self-serving hypocrite, much?


So it's fine to make somebody a felon for quoting the words from one of your stories someplace AFTER THEY PAID FOR IT, but not worth your time and effort to do that self same "policing" you advocate yourself! SWEET!

 

[sr71plt]

I take it this is one of your drunk and extra bitchy days, Ghost of safe_bet? Because you're making really stupid and erroneous assertions and even then not making a lick of sense. You've got angry freaky fringe bitchery down to a T today, though.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I take it this is one of your drunk and extra bitchy days, Ghost of safe_bet? Because you're making really stupid and erroneous assertions and even then not making a lick of sense. You've got angry freaky fringe bitchery down to a T today, though.

Which part is erroneous? The part where I quoted you saying that OTHER people need to help enforce the forums rules or the part where I quoted you saying that you saw a clear violation of those self same rules, but wouldn't be arsed to do anything about it.

That the same kind of BS thinking that supports laws like PIPA = "I'm too lazy to use the CIVIL reliefs that ALREADY exist, so I want the government to arrest them and do it for me"

 

[JackLuis]

Raw Story is also black in protest as well.

But that's all I've found, so far.

 

[PennLady]

Just FYI, posted by Neil Gaiman:

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-washington-from-artists.html

 

[sr71plt]

So it's fine to make somebody a felon for quoting the words from one of your stories someplace AFTER THEY PAID FOR IT, but not worth your time and effort to do that self same "policing" you advocate yourself! SWEET!

You choose to misrepresent what I post here on protection and posting stories here.

Also, I reported a copyright violation here as recently as yesterday. So, that's what I meant as erroneous (on that issue). You chose to take it as meaning I wasn't doing anything. Maybe if you took your head out of your twat and tried to act like a human being you wouldn't be such a clown.

Boo. You don't impress me one bit.

 

[Safe_Bet]

So it's fine to make somebody a felon for quoting the words from one of your stories someplace AFTER THEY PAID FOR IT, but not worth your time and effort to do that self same "policing" you advocate yourself! SWEET!

You choose to misrepresent what I post here on protection and posting stories here.

Also, I reported a copyright violation here as recently as yesterday. So, that's what I meant as erroneous (on that issue). You chose to take it as meaning I wasn't doing anything. Maybe if you took your head out of your twat and tried to act like a human being you wouldn't be such a clown.

Boo. You don't impress me one bit.

In otherwords, you believe in enforcing those forum rules that impact you directly, but could care less about the others? Way to support and look out for the welfare of this site, dude!

Guess we're back to my initial question:

Self-serving hypocrite, much????

 

[sethp]

The Wiki Blackout especially has put this in the limelight. It's on every news feed everywhere. Even people at work are talking about it who could care less about "The internet laws". This protest/blackout has been a huge success by increasing the awareness of this issue 100 fold.

Let's not forget that here at Lit...it would be easy for some dumbass (they do it already) or someone who doesn't like this website (Like someone from Stormfront) to post a copyrighted image and then BAM. This whole website goes down...no questions asked. That's really the big issue here...one dumbass or one legit mistake or one malicious action can take down an entire website. Totally heavy handed. These bills need to die now.

I use Wikipedia all the time...it's usually my first reference check and then I use that info to dig deeper and go to actual source material.

The best Sopa/Pipa protest was on theoatmeal.com. Very funny.

 

[sr71plt]

In otherwords, you believe in enforcing those forum rules that impact you directly, but could care less about the others? Way to support and look out for the welfare of this site, dude!

No, I don't believe that. Again, erroneous innuendo on your part. Your bitter bitch routine doesn't impress me.

 

[sr71plt]

Let's not forget that here at Lit...it would be easy for some dumbass (they do it already) or someone who doesn't like this website (Like someone from Stormfront) to post a copyrighted image and then BAM. This whole website goes down...no questions asked. That's really the big issue here...one dumbass or one legit mistake or one malicious action can take down an entire website. Totally heavy handed. These bills need to die now.

Yes they could. But the basic problem would still not be that they did that but that some selfish dumb bunny had posted the copyrighted material here to begin with. It's not a change in the problem or in what copyright is supposed to protect.

It's not even a change in the rules of this website. Copyrighted material is not supposed to be reposted here.

It's just a change in your convenience. It would be a wake-up call--for anyone who took the time to think about the rights of authorship. (Which really shouldn't be too much to ask of someone posting to a forum called "Authors Hangout")